There IS an end in sight. It’s just not anytime soon for those that need it the most.
Even though all tropical storm warnings have been cancelled, the persistent heavy rain and flash flooding from Tropical Storm Florence will continue for several more hours in portions of North and South Carolina.
The heavy rain and flood risk will then spread across the Mid-State of North Carolina and areas along and north of I-20 in South Carolina Saturday Night.
On Sunday, additional flash flooding may occur in the upstate regions of both North and South Carolina as Tropical Storm Florence (or what’s left of it) finally begins to accelerate to the northwest.
In a statement from the National Weather Service Raleigh, North Carolina office Saturday afternoon, forecasters advised “the worst is not over yet”, and that the intense rainbands will continue to move onshore tonight, resulting in additional localized flash flooding.
An additional 12 to 18 inches of rain is possible in areas of North Carolina between Fayetteville and Wilmington, which will bring storm totals to between 30 and 40 inches in some places.
Central sections of North Carolina, stretching down to about the I-20 corridor in north-central South Carolina, an additional 8 to 12 inches of rain is forecast through Monday. Upstate areas of North Carolina and South Carolina will receive 4 to 8 inches of rain from Florence, with locally higher amounts up to 12 inches possible in the higher terrain.
Millions of Carolinians have already endured historic flooding from record-setting rainfall dumped by Tropical Storm Florence. The rising water has prompted the rescue of more than 350 people along coastal areas of North Carolina, according to Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest. Hundreds of roads have also been closed, including sections of I-95 in North Carolina between mile markers 65 and 81. For more information on road closures, refer to theNorth Carolina andSouth Carolina departments of transportation pages.
The center of Florence will continue to crawl to the west Sunday, approaching Greenville, South Carolina by noon. It will exit the state by Sunday afternoon, but downpours will persist from Myrtle Beach to Jacksonville and Raleigh through Monday.
On Monday, upper-level winds will pick Florence up, and low pressure system will accelerate through the Appalachian Mountains to New England by Tuesday, before moving offshore and into the open Atlantic midweek.
The South Carolina Emergency Information Network will continue to monitor the progress of Hurricane Florence and provide updates on public radio stations throughout the state, and on the @SCPublicRadio and @SCETV social media accounts.